e-Key <span id="jodit_selection_marker_1709022225820_7685650412901586" data-jodit_selection_marker="start" style="line-height: 0; display: none;"></span>v3 - Cyphos<span id="jodit_selection_marker_1709022225820_8562271891144628" data-jodit_selection_marker="end" style="line-height: 0; display: none;"></span>temma
SANBI Flora Keys Logo
Interactive keys to the identification of seed plants of southern Africa using keys based on plant morphology.

Vitaceae - Cyphostemma (Planch.) Alston

Description:

  • Erect, prostrate or climbing, perennial herbs, shrubs or trees with succulent stems usually caudiciform
  • Tendrils leaf-opposed or 0
  • Leaves digitately 3-9-foliolate, sometimes simple or palmate, sessile or petiolate, margins variously toothed; stipules present
  • Flowers in leaf-opposed or axillary, ± corymbose cymes; buds cylindric or flask-shaped and constricted ± in middle, apex rounded and often ± inflated
  • Calyx entire or 4-toothed
  • Corolla yellow, yellowish green, sometimes with maroon in upper part; petals 4, hooded at apex, becoming deflexed, soon deciduous
  • Disc of 4 fleshy, truncate or conical glands, ± free from each other, but somewhat adnate to ovary
  • Stamens 4; anthers with straight filaments
  • Ovary with 2 incompletely separated locules, each with 2 ovules; style simple, subulate; stigma minutely 2-fid, subentire or subcapitate
  • Fruit a berry, ovoid or ellipsoid, glabrous or variously hairy
  • Seed usually 1, often crested and rugose
  • x = 11 (polyploidy)

Nomenclature:

  • Cyphostemma (Planch.) Alston
    • Harvey: 249 (1860), under Cissus
    • Alston: 53 (1931)
    • Wild & Drummond: 459 (1966)
    • Descoings: 106 (1968)
    • Merxmüller & Schreiber: 3 (1969)
    • Descoings: 28 (1972)
    • Verdcourt: 48 (1993)
  • Cissus L. sect. Cyphostemma Planch.
    • Planchon: 472 (1887), as Cyphostomma

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global: Species ± 250, cosmopolitan in tropical and subtropical regions
  • Southern Africa: Species 34, except in Northern and Western Cape

References:

  • ALSTON, A.H.G. 1931. Vitaceae. In H. Trimen, The Handbook to the flora of Ceylon 6, supplement. Dulau, London
  • DESCOINGS, B. 1968. Vitacées. Flore du Gabon 14
  • DESCOINGS, B. 1972. Vitacées. Flore du Cameroun 13
  • HARVEY, W.H. 1860. Ampelideae. Flora capensis 1: 249 (under Cissus)
  • MERXMÜLLER, H. & SCHREIBER A. 1969. Vitaceae. Prodromus einer Flora von Südwestafrika 80
  • PLANCHON, J.E. 1887. Ampelideae. In A.L.P.P. & A.C.P. de Candolle, Monographiae phanerogamarum 5,2. G. Masson, Paris
  • VERDCOURT, B. 1993. Flora of tropical East Africa. Vitaceae
  • WILD, H. & DRUMMOND, R.B. 1963. Vitaceae. Flora zambesiaca 2

Copyright of the content hosted by this website remains with the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), unless stated otherwise.
Material from this site may be used in other media, provided that SANBI is acknowledged by the name South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) or refer to the 'How to cite this resource' paragraph on the Home page.
Liability disclaimer: Visitors use this site at their own risk and SANBI is not liable for any of the consequences resulting therefrom.